Most wireless gaming headsets ask you to give something up, and this one mostly doesn’t, which is why it costs $129.99 instead of sixty. The Arctis Nova 5P runs custom neodymium drivers, weighs about 265 grams, and gives you two ways to connect: a 2.4GHz USB-C dongle for low latency and Bluetooth 5.3 for a phone, with a button on the headset to switch between them. Battery is rated at 60 hours. The ClearCast 2.X microphone retracts into the earcup when you don’t want it. It works on PC, Mac, PS5, Switch, and Steam Deck.
Out of the box it sounds crisp and fairly neutral, with clear highs and detailed mids, which is unusual in a category that normally ships with the bass turned up to compensate for cheap drivers. It’s genuinely good out of the box. The one sonic complaint is that treble gets exaggerated and fatiguing above roughly 85% volume, though the app fixes that. And the app is a real asset here, with over a hundred presets tuned by esports players and audio engineers, which does more for the sound than any amount of driver marketing.
Comfort is the standout, genuinely all-day even on a larger head thanks to the light build and generous ear cushions. The microphone gets rated outstanding, loud and clear and detailed, and the fact that it retracts away means you’re not snapping a boom arm off in a bag. I have genuinely lost track of when I last charged mine. Two nits. The plastic headband housing feels wobbly despite the otherwise premium finish, and there’s no foam cover on the mic, so it picks up a bit more room noise than it should.
Being able to switch radios from the headset is the real convenience, so you can jump from a console on 2.4GHz to a phone on Bluetooth without repairing anything. The dongle is USB-C, which is convenient, though its housing is wide enough that it can crowd out neighbouring ports on a laptop. One thing to know before ordering: creating your own custom audio presets requires SteelSeries’ Sonar software, which runs on PC only, so console-only owners are limited to the built-in presets. On-headset volume and mute controls handle the basics.
Get these if you want wireless that doesn’t sound like a compromise, you play across more than one platform, and you’re on a headset for hours at a time. Affordable luxury is the right description at $129.99. Skip them if sixty dollars is your ceiling, or if you need custom EQ from a console without a PC nearby. SteelSeries’ own Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is the step up if budget isn’t the constraint. But this is the point on the curve where wireless stops costing you anything that matters.
Pros
• 2.4GHz and Bluetooth, switchable from a button on the headset
• Around 60 hours of battery
• Neutral, crisp tuning rather than the usual bass wall
• Retractable mic that’s genuinely outstanding
Cons
• Treble gets fatiguing above about 85% volume
• Plastic headband housing feels wobbly
• Custom presets need PC software, so consoles get defaults only
• Wide dongle can block neighbouring USB ports
Our score: 8.4/10